Whether you just bought a new car or you are maintaining the one that you have had for years, there are steps you can take to get the most out of every drop of gas. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s agency for consumer protection, offers a few tips on how to use fuel more efficiently:
On the Road: Drive Efficiently
1. Stick to the speed limit. You use more gas with speeds over 60 MPH
2. Don’t drive aggressively. Gas mileage can be improved by about 5 percent when you avoid quick starts and sudden stops, keep a steady pace.
3. Don’t idle unless you have to. Idling costs you money, wastes fuel and pollutes the air. If you think you may not be moving for a while, turn off your car.
4. Reduce or combine errands. Short trips from a cold engine use nearly twice as much gas as one trip with a warm engine, driving the same distance.
5. Use overdrive and cruise control whenever possible. This improves fuel economy when highway driving.
6. Remove extra weight from your trunk. Extra weight makes your engine work harder, even an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2 percent.
7. Avoid loading up your roof rack. Rooftop rack and carriers create wind resistance and decrease fuel economy about 5 percent.
At the Garage: Properly Maintain Your Car
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